The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-31

plnincd somewhat OF Wnnb rho osnou hO
stlnglness OF the King" She said no was
prince. mndo a man OF him, he was clumsy.
/ mndo roady man Of him; DO wns bore.
made IN entertaining man OF him; no was
coward, havo made brave man OF him; no
yas stingy, I could not mako generous man
Of him. Liberal II you like; generous, no."
Victor Hugo evidently had o favorable opin-
Ion OF Louis Philippe, who spoke to him at
times with extreme frankness. On his going
TO Saint Cloud one day, In November. 1874, tho
King made him cit down with him on couch
In a private apartment, took his hand. and said
in somewhat bitter tono Of complaint; III.
Hugo, nm misunderstood. I am said to be
proud, I an said to be clover. That means
that an traitor. 1t grievos mo. am SIM
ply an honest man. / 60 the straight road.
Those who arc acquainted with me know that
I am not wanting in frankness. Theirs, when
he was acting with mo, told mo one day, when
we disagreed: Sire. you are proud, but am
prouder than you aro.' Tho proof that that
is not So replied. is that you tell me So
NJ. do Talleyrnnd snid to mo one day: "Youw will
never mako anything Of Thiers who for oil that
would DO an excellent instrument But he In
ono OF those mon who can only be used on con.
dition Of satisfying their requirements. And
no will never be satisfied. Tho misfortune for
himself, as we'll as for you. Is that there is no
longor my possibility Of his being Cardinal
Theirs Is clever. but he has too much OF the
conceit Of self-made man. Guizot IL better
He Is O man OF weight, fulcrum; tho species
Is q rare ono. and appreciate 1t" Then no
added: "Ah. how rare Is true Minister! Thoy
arc all like school boys. They leave the Coun-
Gil as boy leaves his class room. On tho day
he left the Ministry the Duke de Broglie jumped
for Joy in the Council Chamber. Marshal Soult
hat Ia bn mi
dear Duke 2 Marshal. we are leaving the Min
istry.' You entered It like wise man. said
the Marshal, who had humor. and you leave 1t
like mailman"
In these selections from the personal expert
ences Of Victor Hugo there Is food for all
palates. but we have lighted upon nothing SO
impressive and interesting as the account OF
O visit to tho deathbed Of Balgac. They who
know something OF Balzac's life are aware that
the freedom from sordid and distractlng cares
that wealth brings with It was the gift Of his
wife. and came to him only short time before
his death. "On Aug. 10, 1850. my wife. who had
been during the day to SEQ Mme do Balzac.
told mo that Balzac was dying. I hurried to
him. We proceeded along cor
ridor, assembled staircase covered with
red carpet and laden with objects OF
art-vases, statues, pictures. credence
tables-and then another corridor. whence
perceived an open door. I heard loud
and sinister rafting noise. was in tho death
chamber OF Balzao. A bod stood in the middle
OF the room. q mahogany bedstead having
suspeusory arrangement at the head and foot
for the convenience Of moving the invalid. NJ.
| do Balzac was In this bed. his head supported
on q pile of pillows. to which had been added
the red damask cushions from the sofa. His
face was purple. almost black, and drawn to
the right side: his beard untrimmed. his gray
hair cut short, his eyes fixed and open. saw
him in profile. and thus he resembled the En-
peror. The candle behind the bed lighted up
brightly the portrait Of young man, rudy
and smiling. hanging near the fire.
place. An insupportable smell issued
from the bed I lifted the counterpane.
and took the hand OF Balzac. 1t was clammy.
I pressed 1t. He did not respond to the pres
sure The nurse said to me. He will die at
daybreak' came down stairs again. bearing
in mind the livid face. Crossing the dining
room, found the bust immovable. impossible.
naughty. vaguely radiant, and I compared
death with immortality. When reached home
It was Sunday. I found many people awaiting
me, among others Riza-Bey. the Turkish
Charge 'AfYaires, Navarette. the Spanish poet
and the Count Arrivabene, tho exiled Italian.
I said to them: Gentlemen. Europe Is on the
point Of losing great soul He died In the
night. He was 81 years old"